{"id":122081,"date":"2015-09-26T15:04:26","date_gmt":"2015-09-26T05:04:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=122081"},"modified":"2020-11-16T15:35:22","modified_gmt":"2020-11-16T05:35:22","slug":"blue-and-green-were-out-to-be-seen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2015\/09\/26\/blue-and-green-were-out-to-be-seen\/","title":{"rendered":"Blue And Green Were Out To Be Seen"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Conhenri, the winner of this year’s Heritage Nanango Mardi Gras Cup, took pride of place in the winner’s box with strapper Bill Millett, jockey Wayne O’Connell and trainer Gary Maroney<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"Gunsynd's<\/a>September 26, 2015<\/strong><\/p>\n

by Paul Dolan*<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Nanango Race Club held its annual Heritage Nanango race day last Saturday, and the theme colours were Springtime blue and green. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Clever omen punters would have backed the first two winners, having observed a fair percentage of the race day crowd dressed in those colours.<\/p>\n

Race one, the South Burnett Western Performance Handicap over the flying 800 metres, was won by the Oakey-trained mare Jeptoo.<\/p>\n

Her rider, Hannah Phillips, wore silks which were predominantly blue in colour, with a splash of pink.<\/p>\n

Jeptoo is very much a short course specialist, with her trainer (Oakey’s Brad Hudson) taking her to Esk, Kilcoy, Gatton and Nanango in recent weeks where she has chalked up two wins, a second and a fourth.<\/p>\n

The lucrative south-east Queensland Cannonball series, which kicks off with an 800 metres event at Kilcoy on Saturday week, still awaits this very interesting horse.<\/p>\n

Hannah Phillips is also building up an imposing record.<\/p>\n

“I got my rider\u2019s license on Valentine\u2019s Day last year but sustained an injury which kept me away from riding for four months,” she said.<\/p>\n

“I started riding in July last year, and in the last 14 months I’ve ridden 33 winners.<\/p>\n

“I love her (Jeptoo) – I was her rider at Esk when she won there in July.”<\/p>\n

Jeptoo\u2019s win on Saturday was a track record breaking run of 45.37 seconds.<\/p>\n

The previous record was 45.80, held by Compolo.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In the second race, the Raising Hell in Maidenwell Maiden Plate, Jason Hoopert booted the Beaudesert-trained daughter of Ferocity, Feisty Girl, to a comfortable win for trainer Ben Robinson. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Hoopert\u2019s silks were green with gold stags.<\/p>\n

Jed Hodge, apprenticed to Pat Duff at Deagon in Brisbane, rode the third winner, Issy Command, who romped home to an easy win in the Heritage Nanango Country Muster Handicap.<\/p>\n

The jockey\u2019s silks were red, blue and pink. Troy Pascoe trains Issy Command at Toowoomba.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Heritage Nanango Mardi Gras Cup over 1200 metres went to the Oakey-trained nine year old gelding Conhenri. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Trainer Gary Maroney has an interesting background.<\/p>\n

He obtained his license to train horses in 1982 and a mere two years later, won Toowoomba\u2019s time honoured sprint, the Weetwood Handicap, with Little Pete.<\/p>\n

“I had engaged another jockey for the ride but he got injured the day prior,” Gary said.<\/p>\n

“I then booked Wayne O’Connell for the mount and he rode him as good as anyone could have.”<\/p>\n

Conhenri is owned by Maroney and his stepson Bill Millett, who is the horses\u2019s strapper.<\/p>\n

Maroney has two horses in work at Oakey: Conhenri and Man Overboard, who ran sixth in race two at Nanango and might win a maiden race sooner than later.<\/p>\n

“Wayne O\u2019\u00c7onnell rides all my trackwork and I\u2019m happy to have him ride my horses in their races,” the trainer said.<\/p>\n

“Wayne and Conhenri have a particular affinity.<\/p>\n

“The horse\u2019s best distance is 1100 to 1200 metres, so I\u2019ll aim him for the Warwick Newmarket on their Cup programme on October 10.<\/p>\n

“The Warwick Cup is over 1500 metres which is a bit too far for the horse, but the Newmarket is 1100 metres which will suit him.”<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Rural Fire Brigade Handicap over 1600 metres wrapped up the Nanango card. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Short priced favourite I\u2019m No Ruby made it three wins in succession following recent victories at Gatton and Goondiwindi.<\/p>\n

The horse is trained by Peter Kings at Oakey. Apprentice Jag Guthmann-Chester brought the horse wide around the home turn and comfortably gathered in the leaders to win in runaway fashion.<\/p>\n

Each of the five Nanango races was won by trainers from afar.<\/p>\n

Three winners were from Oakey and one each from Toowoomba and Beaudesert.<\/p>\n

The locals might enjoy more success at Nanango\u2019s next meeting which is on Saturday, December 5.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the pre Christmas raceday and the fashion theme is very appropriate: the colour red.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, it\u2019s Kilcoy on Saturday, October 3; Gayndah Jockey Club races on October 10 (Caulfield Guineas day in Melbourne); and then it\u2019s back to the sand at Wondai on Caulfield Cup day, October 17.<\/p>\n

*Note:<\/strong> Ross Stanley is currently on holidays, but will be returning to this column next week.<\/p>\n